201: Rethinking the “Game of School” with Chad Ostrowski

Welcome to Season 2 of No Name Paper — where we dig into the real work of education: the messy middle, the big shifts, and the people pushing our profession forward.We’re kicking off the season with a powerful conversation featuring Chad Ostrowski, co-founder and CEO of the Teach Better Team.Chad shares his journey from high-needs classrooms to developing the Grid Method, a mastery-based, self-paced learning framework designed to center learning over compliance. Together, we unpack what it really means to move away from “playing school” and toward classrooms where students take ownership — and teachers regain balance.This episode is for educators who are questioning traditional grading, wrestling with engagement, navigating AI in the classroom, or looking for instructional models that actually work in real schools with real kids.Why coverage is not competence — and what to do insteadHow mastery learning changes student motivation, grit, and accountabilityWhat the Grid Method looks like in real classrooms (not just in theory)Why discomfort is often a sign that learning is actually happeningHow self-paced learning can reduce burnout and improve classroom managementThe impact of AI on learning — and why mastery-based instruction matters more than everPractical entry points for teachers who want to try mastery learning without overhauling everything“If students are working harder and learning more, we’re winning — even if it’s uncomfortable.”“The value of teaching isn’t the knowledge we hold — it’s the experience we create.”“Mastery learning gives us better information, and better information never hurts instruction.”🌐 Website: https://www.teachbetter.com📚 Free Grid Method Course: Teach Better Academy📲 Follow Chad on social media: @ChadOstrowski📲 Follow Teach Better: @TeachBetterTeamNo Name Paper is where teaching is more than one size fits all. We highlight educators, ideas, and strategies that challenge the status quo and bring humanity back to the classroom.If this episode resonated with you, be sure to follow, rate, and share — it helps other educators find the conversations they need.In this episode, we discuss:Notable moments:Connect with Chad & Teach BetterAbout No Name Paper